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Thousands of consumers in Washington state who buy their own health insurance, rather than getting it through a group, will soon receive letters from their insurance company telling them their old health plan is going away, and they’ll have to pick a new one.

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler urges consumers to know their rights and options to help them get the best plan to meet their needs.

All of the insurance companies selling individual health plans in the state are replacing their current plans with plans that have new consumer protections, Kreidler said. They must give their policyholders a 90-day notice that outlines their options, including:

If you’ve received a notice from your insurer about picking a new plan and you don’t take action, your insurer will automatically move you to the plan that most closely resembles what you have today, he said. This new plan could cost more, but it’s not your only option.

“Companies are required to give you notice if they’re replacing your plan,” said Kreidler. “But, unfortunately, they may not include all of your options – including your right to pick a new plan from a different company or buy through the new exchange, WAhealthplanfinder.org. “

Starting Oct. 1, everyone – including people with individual health insurance plans – can shop for a new plan in Washington’s new exchange, WAhealthplanfinder.org.

Under health care reform, all health insurance plans must include new consumer protections including paying for at least 60 percent of medical costs and covering 10 essential health benefits, such as prescription drugs and maternity.

Currently, most plans in today’s individual market – where people go to buy their own health insurance – have high deductibles, have cost-sharing limits of up to $10,000 a year, don’t cover many benefits, such as prescription drugs, and only pay for 40 percent to 50 percent of medical costs, he said. That leaves the rest to the consumer to pay for through high deductibles and large cost-sharing limits.

“For years, people who buy their own health insurance have been paying more and getting less,” said Kreidler. “Starting Oct. 1, they’ll have new and better plans to choose from, with limits on out-of-pocket costs and the possibility of tax credits to help pay their monthly premium.”

Kreidler added that in the past, people who received a rate increase and wanted to shop around were limited if they had a high-deductible plan unless they could pass a health screening again.

“Don’t just take what your insurance company says, make sure you shop around,” he said. “You have the right to buy any plan inside the new exchange or in the outside market.”

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